Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-12
THE PosTOFFICE CASE.
SOME CONFLICTING AND SENSA-
TIONAL TESTIMONY.
In Their Efforts to Break Down the
Testimony of Witnesses the De-
fendant is Lost Sight Of.


next witness called was John S. Williams
a deputy clerk of the Supreme Court
When he took the stand one of the at
torneys for the defense asked:
do you know w. S. Leake, the prose
cutting witness in this case?"
Il do, sir
q Do you know his reputation, where he
lives, for truth, honor and veracity?"
Il do, SIR"
knowing his reputation, would you
believe him under oath ?"
81 would not believe Mr.. Leake under
OATH"
The attorney, turning to General Carey,
the prosecuting attorney, with triumphant
wave of the hand, said: Take the wit
ness"
General Carey-" Mr.. Williams, believe
you were a denuty under Mr.. McCarty, the
late defaulting Supreme Court Clerk ?"
a was, sir"
81 believe that Mr. Leake preferred
charges against Mr.. McCarty, and upon
those charges the latter was indicted for
embezzling public funds"
Yes, sir and he also preferred charges
against me, but the legislative investigation
vindicated me-"
Then l am to understand that you
would not believe Mr.. Leake under oath
simply because he had the moral courage
to charge his employer with this short
age?"
Il think Mr.Dunn preferred the charges"
Have you heard Mr.. Leake's character
discussed by Others"
have not"
Is this simply personal opinion of
yours, based upon your own knowledge,
and not upon common report ?"
1t is, sir
You did not entertain this opinion
prior to the time those charges were made
against Mr. McCarty, which in reality were
based upon investigations made by Mr..
Leake ?'
No, sir. Not until the charges were
made'
"You now, am to understand, swear
that you do not know Mr.. Leake's reputa-
ton for truth and veracity in the commu-
nifty in which he resides? ?"
II do not. That is only my personal
opinion of the man."
General Carey now turned around and
looked smilingly at defendants attorney,
as much as to say, If you have any more
witnesses like this one trot them out"
The defendants attorney arose and, in
much humility, said: "Your Honor, l
feel it incumbent upon me at this time to
ask that all of the testimony of this wit
ness be stricken out" The Court granted
the request. Mr.. Williams was excused
from giving further testimony and retired
The next witness was Mrs. NJ. E. Krop-
per, of Washington, Yolo county. Her
testimony was relative to the loss of three
postal notes which she alleges she pur-
chased at the Sacramento Postoffice and
inclosed in letter to Mrs. Armstrong, of
San Francisco. They were of the follow
ing denominations So 33, $3 SO and S. "a,
amounting to $40, and were to pay arrears
in lodge of which she was a member.
Her story is that she gave the money to
ex-Fish Commissioner r. II. Bucking-
ham TO purchase the postal notes for her
That he did so, and she mailed them as
above stated. Not receiving a receipt she
wrote letter of inquiry to the Secretary
OF the lodge, and was informed by the
latter that the money had not been re-
ceiyed. She commenced an inquiry, but
so far has been unable to find any trace of
them
General Carey suggested that inasmuch
as Mr.. Leake had testified that the stubs
showed that no such postal notes had been
issued either in the months of MAY or
April, and as she stated they were issued
on or about the 12tn of April, there must
be some mistake about it, and perhaps Mr.
Buckingham had purchased notes of Wells
Fargo & Co.
Witness, however, was quite confident
that they were postal notes, although she
had not critically examined them She did
not think she was mistaken about the mat
ter. Her testimony was quite lengthy and
tedious, and was at last interrupted By the
Court, who said:
L have heard enough OF this kind of
testimony. If the counsel for the prosecu-
ton will not object to it, l will stop it my
self. What has all this got to do with the
guilt or innocence of the defendant? have
heard quite enough of this kind of testi-
mony, and will hear no more of it,
General Carey-Your honor, for several
reasons l have made up my mind to allow
the defense the widest range, and shall in
terpose no objections. While il is true this
has not the remotest relevance to the case,
and if objected. it must be kept out; still
l am perfectly willing that they should in
vestigate this office and its officials to their
hearts content.
The Court-ltis hardly fair for the District
Attorney to throw this responsibility upon
the Court. The defense has admitted that
the accused took package of letters from
the Office and placed them in an ante-room
You are wasting much valuable time in
discussing lodging houses and other mat
ters outside of the case, and l will have to
order halt.
Mrs. Kropper was excused from giving
further testimony.
The next witness called for the defense
was John a. Sheehan, OF Sacramento He
said he was the editorial writer of the
Ereaing Bee.
Attorney for the defense: Mr. Shee-
han, do you know the general reputation
of Mr.. Leake for truth, honor and veracity
in the community in which he resides ?"
/ think do
What is it ?"
Bad
From what you know of Mr. Leake
would you believe him under oath ?''
q | should have to qualify my answer to
that under oath. If he had any interest in
the case would not"
DISCRIMINATION.
Mr. Carey: What did you say is your
occupation ?"
Editorial writer of the Bee"
ibid you write those articles which ap-
peared in the BeeF
q ! think wrote one of those articles"
You have very strong personal feelings
against Mr.. Leake, have you not?n
nave personal ietllnSS against nlIn
"Are not your feelings toward him so
strong that you would go out of your way
to do him an injury? ?n
" entertain no strong personal feelings
against him. / don't think would go out
of my way to do him an injury
Would you enjoy writing him up in
the Bee ~
"If he did wrong and l should find
it out, would write him up in the paper.
What | wrote about him is true"
Did you go to the Postoffice and make
inquiry TO satisfy yourself of the correct
ness of these statements before publishing
them ?n
a lost money through the Postoffice,
and / satisfied myself these statements
were true -